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Tag: Ondo state

  • “Reduction in Ondo Varsity reparation fee, unacceptable”

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has rejected the reduction in the reparation fee of N25,000 to N15,000 imposed on students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, as a condition for their readmission into the institution.

    The development was the aftermath of the rampage that greeted the death of one of them, Afolabi Ojo

    APC said the reduction has not changed the fundamental that the levy is still unacceptable and a travesty of justice.

    A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro said: “This reduction in fee has given credence to our earlier statements that the school authority erred in imposing levy on the students in the first place.

    “We are re-emphasising that this levy was hurriedly done to divert the attention of the public from government negligence in doing the needful for the state University.

    “It seems the school authority is not getting it yet. The point we (APC) are making is that there is no reason students should be punished for a preventable death of one of their colleagues when they are not the cause of the unfortunate death.

    “The government is as culpable when it refuses to provide a backup healthcare facility for Afolabi Ojo, as when it actually participated in his death.

    The statement said making scapegoats out of the students was a precarious move the government applied to save its face in the public.

    It said: “This is not working and will never work as the public had since exonerated the helpless students.

    “While not condoning any act of violence, we must however get things right. It’s natural that emotions always run high in human seeing the death of a colleague that could be prevented the way Afolabi Ojo seems to have been killed unattended to through non provision of good healthcare services at his disposal.

    “If adequate Medicare had been provided for him- as he might have probably paid for health centre fee as charged as part of school fee, the situation would have been different and understandable.

    “The students would not have gone on peaceful demonstration that was allegedly hijacked by hoodlums and resulted in violence.

    “As we all know times are hard in the state, people are hungry and consequently angry with the government for non payment of their salaries for an unprecedented five months which had resulted in low economic activities in the state.

    “Anyone could have tapped on the people’s anger for the PDP-led government in the state to perpetrate violence.

    “Therefore, forcing the students to pay reparation for a crime they did not commit- as there was no investigation that suggest otherwise, and having lost one of their colleagues to the cold hand of death in such a painful, shocking and unforgiving manner is excruciating enough to provoke another rounds of anger at the slightest provocation after their resumption.

    “This reparation fee that only the school authority will be the sole benefits, and not minding the death of their student is most pathetic to comprehend.

    “It is a callous reflection of their desire not to give value for life and a blatant disregard to the feelings of the parents of the deceased who are still grieving the lost of their son at this time and hoping to put a closure to the actual cause of the death of their only son by instituting a panel of inquiry to that effect instead of capitalising on their son’s death to raise unwarranted funds.

    “Public perception is very sensitive and not handling this situation properly, especially when the loss of life is concerned could be perceived as callous.

    ” This situation must be handled with care, sensitivity and dispassionately to make everyone involved calm down the boiling tension.

    “Any negative action as taken by the imposition of reparation fee such as this on students can spontaneously earned further provocation that would result in further uprisings in the future.”

  • Strike paralyses court activities in Ondo

    Strike paralyses court activities in Ondo

    Court premises in Ondo State were Tuesday under lock and key as Judiciary workers under the auspices of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) began an indefinite strike.

    Their action was hinged on the alleged failure of the state government to honour an agreement reached on the financial autonomy of the judicial arm of government.

    The workers who complied strictly with the strike order urged the state Governor to honour the agreement for industrial harmony in the state.

    Some judiciary workers who were seen at the premises of the Magistrate court, Oke Eda, Akure, said they were at the court premises to enforce the strike order.

    Also in Akokoland, the usually busy court premises were deserted.

    A man, Emmanuel Ojelabi who came to Magistrate Court,Ikare-Akoko as early as 7.00 a.m to transact business went home disappointed as he could not gain entry into the premises.

    An executive member of JUSUN who spoke in confidence said “we are monitoring the court in case we can see any of our member who wants to disobey the union’s directive. The status quo remains until another directive comes from the leadership of the union.”

    Speaking on the development, the state chairman of JUSUN, Mr. Ilesanmi Dido said the union could no longer allow the government to continue to breach Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which grants financial autonomy to the judiciary.”

    According to him, the administration of justice has collapsed in the state judiciary due to poor funding and non-payment of over four months salaries of JUSUN members by the state government

    The JUSUN chairman contended that if Governor Olusegun Mimiko had implemented the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on financial autonomy for the judiciary, judges and workers would not have been owed salaries.

    Dido said the autonomy would address the deplorable condition of court rooms,adding that that the strike would continue until the state government honours the agreement reached with the union two years ago on the matter.

  • Community leader docked in Ondo

    Community leader docked in Ondo

    An Ondo Chief, Joseph Akinawonu has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town over alleged conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of money.

    According to the charge sheet, the community leader along-side one Nureni Akinola were alleged to have committed the offence for which they were arraigned on a three count in February at No. 29 Mode Street, Ondo.

    Akinnawonu and Akinola were said to have allegedly used trick and obtained the sum of N500, 000 from one Madam Eunice Ajayi under the pretence of selling 10 plots of land for her and fraudulently converted the money to his personal use.

    The duo was also said to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N150, 000 from the complainant under the pretence of assisting her to grade the landed property which the accused persons later sold to another person.

    The offence which according to the charge sheet are contrary to section 516, 419 and 249 of the criminal code cap 37 vol. 1 laws of Ondo state of Nigeria 2006.

    When the charge sheet was read to the accused person.

    They pleaded not guilty, subsequently the police prosecutor, Corporal Gbenga Akinsulure, said he was ready to prosecute the case by inviting three witnesses.

    He urged the court to give him short adjournment to assemble his witnesses.

    Also, the defence counsel to the accused persons, Bade Awosule, urged the court to grant bail to his clients in liberal terms and on self recognition, saying chief Akinawonu being an Ondo chief would not jump bail.

    Awosule pleaded with the court that his clients have concluded plans to settle the case out of court with the complainant.

    After listening to the applications of both parties, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Odenusi Fadeyi, granted bail to the accused person on self recognition and ordered that the defence counsel should stand surety for the accused person and thereby adjourned the case till May 11.

  • Sanitation: Six landlords jailed in Ondo

    A Mobile court sitting in Ondo town, presided over by Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi has sentenced six landlords to six months imprisonment each with hard labour.

    Prosecutors Elizabeth Akinfemisoye and Adejoke Olarewaju, said the landlords were arraigned in the court over four-count charge.

    This ranged from their inability to provide latrine accommodation in their various places of domicile, since the existing one is filled up and liable to cause epidemic in the area.

    The landlords were also accused of failing to amend the dilapidated walls in their premises.

    hey were also accused of defecating indiscriminately around their premises, the development  which the health officers claimed was capable of causing outbreak of diseases in the area.

    They were also  alleged to have failed to provide sanitary kitchen and bathroom in their houses  since the existing one is unsanitary and exposes the users.

    The offences the health officers claimed have contradicted and contrary to section 8, part II, cap 52 and punishable under same section and sub-section o, p, r, and a of Ondo State environmental sanitation law of 2004.

    When the charges were read to all the accused persons, they all pleaded  guilty,however, after listening to the application of both the prosecutors  and the accused persons, the presiding Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi, sentenced the landlords to six months imprisonment each  or pay the sum of N10,000 in lieu of the fine.

    Similarly, five residential buildings located in various parts of the community were also ordered to be sealed-off by the court.

    The developed was hinged on what it described as poor sanitary conditions and non-compliance with environmental sanitation laws.

    The sealing off operations which was sequel to an order granted by the court and was led by Mrs. Elizabeth  Akinfemisoye, a Principal Environmental Health Officer (PEHO) who is also  in charge of prosecution in the Local Government.

    The  Environmental Officer who relied on section 1, 15, 16, 18 and 22 of the Ondo State Waste Management Enforcement and offenses provision regulation of year 2004, Ondo State Environmental Sanitation Law of 2004 and Environmental Sanitation Edict of 1986 in bringing the matter to the court.

    He said the owners of the affected houses contravened the relevant sections of the environmental law by their refusal to provide toilet facilities required for good healthy living and absence of prescribed dustbin in their dwelling places.

    Akinfemisoye,who also told the court that the house owners and the proprietor of the school, deliberately refused to heed persistent directives from the health department to provide latrine accommodation, insanity kitchen, refusal to renovate collapsed pit
    latrine and sanity bathroom which he said are dangerous and may constitute health hazard to members of the public.

    In her ruling,  the presiding Magistrate Fadeyi, said based on the argument and the evidence before the court, ordered for the immediate sealed-off of the affected buildings and thereby adjourned the case for further hearing.

  • Ondo, a failed state – Boroffice

    Ondo, a failed state – Boroffice

    A Senator representing Ondo North District, Prof Ajayi Boroffice has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state would not sell the projects of the state to other states if assumed power after the November governorship poll.

    He alleged that projects worth N670m belonging to the state has been sold by the state government, describing Ondo as a failed state.

    Boroffice, who is a governorship aspirant, lamented the current economic situation in the state, stressing that Governor Olusegun Mimiko should be held responsible for the poor economic situation in the state.

    He alleged that the state government recently sold some projects belonging to the state, particularly the proposed Dangote oil refinery which has been relocated to Lagos state.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology who spoke during a visit to the state Secretariat of the APC, declared his intention to contest the November governorship election in the state.

    He alleged that the projects were diverted to other states of the federation.

    He also berated the Mimiko led administration for demolishing many projects belonging to the state, especially the Owena hotels.

    The Asiwaju of Akokoland however, disclosed his plan to transform the state and give it a new beginning if elected the next Governor of the state.

    He said: “my vision is to build the APC and transform the party to serve as the hope of all the people of the state. My plan is to serve the entire people of Ondo state irrespective of religion or ethnic affiliation.”

    He said “the incoming APC government in Ondo state will promote equity, justice and fairness unlike what currently operates in the state. APC is a political party for all the indigene and non-indigine of this state and this we shall show when we get to government, as every individual will be actively involved in government.”

    “Our suffering will soon end in Ondo state because after darkness comes sunshine. With APC government in place, all the sufferings being experienced in Ondo state will become a thing of the past.”

    He declared that he was destined to rule the state and his dream would be realized on the platform of the APC,stressing that he will implement party supremacy.

    Boroffice said: “Give me the opportunity to Alagbaka House and I will move this state forward in a couple of months. In his remarks, the state chairman of the party, Hon Isaac Kekemeke assured that the party’s flag bearer will emerge through a transparent primary election.

    He said all the Governorship aspirants of the party will be given a level playing ground in the party.

    According to him, “I have no power to endorse any aspirant likewise my state exco, I am so excited that platform has become credible and everybody is eager to become governor under the APC.”

  • Fire guts Ondo governor’s office as Sheriff visits Mimiko

    Fire guts Ondo governor’s office as Sheriff visits Mimiko

    The visitation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was early disrupted Wednesday as the multi-billion naira Executives’ Chamber of the governor’s office was gutted by fire.

    The PDP Chairman, who arrived the state at exactly 1:15 pm was expected to address the party leaders and journalists in the same executives chamber’s office.

    Sheriff was still in a close door meeting with Mimiko in his main office three minutes after he arrived when the incident occurred.

    This was said to have been caused by power surge from the ante-room of the governor’s office.

    Journalists and PDP leaders, who were waiting for Sheriff at the Executives chamber’s office discovered the fire outbreak but their efforts was not enough to quench the fire.

    However, as the information reached the governor, he quickly left the office with his guest to the Government House which is about two kilometers to his office. Workers were seen rushing out of their offices for safety.

    Officers of the Fire Brigade Services and the State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Gboye Adegbenro arrived the scene 20 minutes after the incident occurred.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, while confirming it said it was a minor incident and had been put off by the fire officers.

    According to him, “we have a power surge at the ante room that the links to the State executives chamber of the governor’s office.

    “Our fire officers responded promptly and put off the fire. Work is now back normal at the governor’s office.

    Akinmade said he decided to address reporters in order to discourage people with insinuation by putting the record straight.

    “It is a general things that power surge occurred. Of recent, I think CBN office in Calabar was on fire and even the fire secretariat in Abuja was once on fire.

    “Thank God that our fire fighters were able to be on ground to prevent the incident from being escalated.

    The Commissioner however said he could not ascertain the level of damage of the fire incident.

    At the Government House, Sheriff said he was in the state to consult with the PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman ahead of the PDP Convention slated for May.

     

     

     

  • Civil servant docked over alleged assault

    Civil servant docked over alleged assault

    A 49- year-old civil servant, Abraham Omoniyi was on Thursday arraigned before an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court over alleged assault on one Rahman Oladele.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Ayodeji Omoyeigha told the court that the accused on Jan. 23 at Sarajoe Street, Okitipupa slapped Oladele in his office.

    He said that the accused also used a knife to threaten Oladele while he was performing his official duty.

    The prosecutor said that the offence was contrary to Section 351, Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

    The accused, of no fixed address, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

    The Magistrate, Mr. Chris Ojuola granted the accused bail in the sum of N30, 000 with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case till March.1 for further hearing.

    Ojuola said that the surety must present one year tax clearance.

  • Tariff increment: Ondo NLC to shut down BEDC offices

    Workers in Ondo State will on Monday next week lead electricity consumers to shut down all offices of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, in the state, to protest against the recent increase in power tariff.

    BEDC is in charge of Ekiti, Ondo, Delta and Edo.

    A statement issued and signed by the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs. Bosede Dramola Thursday said the picketing of all DISCOS offices nationwide including BEDC was part of the decisions at the NLC National Executive Council, NEC meeting held in Lagos.

    She added that the union is doing due in order to kick against the unlawful and unilateral hike in the electricity tariff by the Nigeria electricity regulatory commission, NERC.

    Daramola however urged members of the civil society organizations, artisans, landlord associations, traders and other electricity consumers to join Nigerian workers at the BEDC head office at NEPA area of Akure to picket the place to reject the new power tariff.

    Report says the picketing of all DISCOS offices by the NLC, TUC and civil society groups will take place in the thirty six states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja by Monday next week.

  • ‘I’m Buhari of Ondo State’

    ‘I’m Buhari of Ondo State’

    Lawyer and human rights activist Dr. Tunji Abayomi is taking another shot at the Ondo State governorship election. In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain justifies why he should be given a chance to govern the state.

    Why do you want to be governor of Ondo State?

    The first thing is that, why is government constituted among people? The essence of government is to have a sovereign to which the people delegate their powers, to realize for them what you might call the possibilities to make life fulfilling; in terms of their hopes and aspiration and in terms of development. The whole essence why I’m running for governorship is because I believe that the above natural expectations of citizens of Ondo State have not been met. In the case of Ondo State, since the present government came to power, it is not only that they have not been met, they have been defeated. Those who are following developments in the state are embarrassed because Ondo State happens to be the state that receives the highest allocation from the federation account in the Southwest. Yet, it is embarrassing that the state cannot pay salaries. I was looking at the rating of states recently on the internet; I think as at today, the state is facing a challenge: its expenditure is about N6 billion per month and the total income is five-point-something billion naira. So, it is an indebted state. So, my mission is to see how I can turn the fortunes of the people around, through discipline, commitment to vital ends, responsible choices, compassion which would reduce the tendency for corruption and intelligence, as well as connection worldwide.

    There are about 18 aspirants gunning for the APC ticket. What gives you the edge?

    It is very simple; the first thing is that I have been in this journey since 2007 and in each instance I’m always the most popular candidate. As a matter of fact, they call me gomina mecunu (governor of the masses) in Ondo State. I’m more or less the Buhari of Ondo State. The second thing is that if you trace the journey of my right, you will know that by natural disposition, I’m closest to the ordinary people. Thirdly, out of all the competitors, I do not believe that there is one person who can claim to have the kind international connection that I have; as a lawyer, I have represented three presidents — Olusegun Obasanjo, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Apart from that, I have been a member of the board of the Kennedy Centre; I have brought a member of the British House of Lords to this country; and I have connections with Canada and other Western countries. But, also, I have indigenous knowledge to know where the problems are, because of my constant and regular interactions with the people. Indeed, most people in Ondo State see me as a man of principle; a man that is consistent. I have never equivocated in terms of my standing since 2004 when I joined the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD). As a matter of fact, in spite of so much pressure, from the PDP by virtue of my relationship with Obasanjo or the Labour Party (LP) because of my friendship with Governor Olusegun Mimiko, I never changed my position. If we also look at the temperature of this time, the atmosphere of Buharism, I think I fit into it much more than the other aspirants.

    What is your assessment of the performance of Governor Mimiko?

    The performance of the current governor is very poor in my view. For instance, it is actually embarrassing that it cannot pay salaries as we speak — two months salaries. Secondly, when you look at the income of the state — by the last count I understand it is over N900 billion and place it against what has been achieved, you will realise that it has not achieved much. What has it achieved? It unnecessarily renovated what needed not to be renovated; an eight-kilometre road in Akure, the Oba Adesida Road, as well as the road from Akure Airport to the town. That is the extent of the road construction that it has done so far. The government also attempted some work in the health sector: it built what it called Mother and Child Centre, which is nothing more than a maternity clinic. But, it made so much noise about it. In any case, it even makes more sense in my view to expand the maternities attached to the various general hospitals that were built from deep thinking by the late Obafemi Awolowo. Those general hospitals are located in different communities in the state. In education, the government built mega schools; everything is mega. But, to my mind, it does not show deep thinking to spend such huge amount to build mega schools. The idea of community schools during the Awolowo era was to reduce the anxiety of parents by having schools within walking distances, so that the pupils can walk to school within their neigbourhood easily. And it is more manageable because it serves the community. The irony is that there are no pupils for the mega schools today. In my view, the money should have been spent to develop and modernize those community schools. In fact, Mimiko’s government is characterised by waste, lack of vision, mismanagement of resources and lack of deep thinking in terms of choices. Ondo State represents the pain and disappointment of Nigerian citizens.

    Given your experience in 2012, have your party leaders given assurances that there would be a level-playing ground this time around?

    Yes, I had confrontations with the leaders of my party the last time (Rotimi) Akeredolu was picked. Then, Akeredolu never said anything about me because he knew that my disagreement was based on principle. It is like this; if you are studying for an exam and before the exam the authorities declared that somebody has come first; it is wrong and unfair. Immediately I left Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, I called Akeredolu to brief him on my discussion with Tinubu. I concluded my discussion this way: I’m of the view that it wrong politically; if I were you, I will reject it and insist that a free and fair primary is conducted. That was why Akeredolu never said anything negative about me. In fact, I notice that he has been standing on the same principle in recent times. Besides, if you look at the recent primaries in the APC, most of the candidates that emerged were not the ones favoured by the party. But, the people chose the candidates they preferred. It is like (Kwame) Nkrumah said, the people have the right to govern themselves by their choice. The people are sovereign; they are the ones that will choose the person that will govern them. As human beings, it is normal for leaders to have preferences and perhaps do something to push it. What is wrong and unacceptable is to simply take over the process and have your own way, to the detriment of the populace. But, things are different now and we hope that it will continue that way. I think the press should help us in this regard, to discourage the tendency for money politics; because you cannot be asking for men of integrity and at the same time be asking for abnormal money during primary: do you want them to steal the money? If they spend a huge amount of money during the primaries, when they get into government what will happen? So, we have our people to appreciate that the end we are advocating for is good governance in the overall interest of the generality of the people. What Buhari is doing now is to turn the tide, to see whether something good can still come out of Nigeria. I belong to that camp, the community of Buhari advocates.

    What would be your priorities, if you are given the chance?

    The first thing is to tap the mind of the people, to develop their possibilities. I will tell the people to develop their mind; every revolution is a product of the mind, not a product of the hand. The first thing is, how do I now tap the mind? I will start with the youths; I will challenge them. I will create centres for invention, design, development and innovation and I will challenge them to come up with ideas; what they can do to transform the society in every area and I will back it with resources. If that happens, I can tell you that our society will be transformed. I saw a typical example in a friend’s house, when I went to Abuja. There were 35 products made of wood; that means that if I encourage the carpenters, they can create products even for exports. I tried something a while ago; I took local artisans to NICON Hotel, in Abuja, many years ago. I said, this is where the wealthiest Nigerians live; look around and picture what you can do, if given the resources. After that, I took them back to Okeagbe. If you get to my house today, you will never believe those things were not made in Italy. This means that the mind is a powerful object and that is why it is often said that it is a terrible thing to waste.

    Given the state of the economy, how would you source funds for your developmental projects?

    First and foremost when government is disciplined in terms of choices and avoidance of waste, it can manage within its means. Look at what the head of the international Monetary fund (IMF) said the other day; she said in spite of the dwindling revenue from crude oil that Nigeria does not need an IMF loan, if she manages her resources very well. So, if the leadership is disciplined, the state can survive. One of the biggest tragedies is the consumption of government; the amount if the wealth of the people that is consumed in government house is abnormal. They order for a set of cars this year and the following year they will order for more. What is wrong with the ones in their garage? Buhari is teaching us; he is still using the same car. Why must the leadership spend so much when the people are starving?

    It is the turn of Ondo North Senatorial District to produce the governor, but people say there is an Akure agenda to install another governor from the Central District …

    I think it is due to lack of understanding. If we even take a governor from Akure, what would be the advantage to the people of Akure? As a capital city, most development is centred in Akure since the time of Adekunle Ajasin. So, Akure dies not gain any advantage; that’s number one. Secondly, I was speaking with one of the prominent political leaders in Akure recently; he said our people are not realistic. Is it possible for a governor from Ondo town to spend eight years and in the next dispensation another governor is picked from within 30 kilometres from the town? I agree with him; it cannot work.

    Things are organised in Ondo State. The next zone that would produce the governor is always allocated the deputy governorship position. When Ajasin was governor, he took his deputy from Ekiti, but eventually Ekiti was excised from Ondo State. When Adebayo Adefarati (Ondo North) became governor, the deputy came from Ondo South, which eventually produced the next governor in the person of Olusegun Agagu. When Agagu became governor, he picked his deputy from the Ondo Central and afterwards the zone produced the next governor in the person of Mimiko. When Mimiko became governor, he took his deputy from Ondo North. So, it is the turn of the North to produce the next governor.

     

  • How we can move forward as a Nation- Mimiko

    How we can move forward as a Nation- Mimiko

    Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has reiterated his belief in constitutional change as the only guarantee for progress in the country.

    He said the only change that Nigeria needed now is the change in its constitution with a view to galvanizing visible national development.

    Governor Mimiko while speaking to party faithful in his office on Wednesday said contrary to the widely publicized change mantra of the federal government, what Nigeria needed at this crucial moment is to restructure the nation’s polity so that the federating units would be able to harness their abundant resources and create wealth for their people.

    According to him, the present constitution which left the States and local governments at the mercy of the federal government will continue to jeopardize national unity and development.

    He explained that his administration has remained focused in its vision to add values to the lives of the people in the areas of healthcare, education, infrastructure and urban renewal among others, noting that the empirical evidences had justified the successes of the programmes.

    The Governor said his government has been able to fulfil his promises to the electorate, adding that  his government has been able to transform the state from what it used  to be when he took over power about seven years ago.

    Mimiko mentioned that through his administration’s giant strides, the state has been able to benchmark for Africa in various sectors, adding that the government’s achievements in the health sector for instance earned the state world attention and a permanent world focus.

    According to him, government is also focusing on Agriculture which he said is presently paying off as youths in the state are daily being engaged.

    He said the concentration of his government at improving lives of the people at the grassroots also made it possible for government to understand the needs of the people at that level hence the its ability to make a great impact at the grassroots, this he said is evident in the cult -like support the government enjoy from the people at the level.